This year’s Heritage Day in Nova Scotia is in honour of Elder Rita (Bernard) Joe, a member of the We’koqma’q Mi’kmaq Community and poet

I Lost My Talk by Rita Joe

I lost my talk

The talk you took away.

When I was a little girl

At Shubenacadie school.

You snatched it away:

I speak like you

I think like you

I create like you

The scrambled ballad, about my word.

Two ways I talk

Both ways I say,

Your way is more powerful.

So gently I offer my hand and ask,

Let me find my talk

So I can teach you about me.

This year’s Heritage Day in Nova Scotia is in honour of Elder Rita (Bernard) Joe, a member of the We’koqma’q Mi’kmaq Community and poet. You can learn more about Heritage Day and Rita Joe’s life and legacy here: https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/co…/2023-honouree-rita-joe